Devious Maids EP Explains the Origin of Eva Longoria’s ‘Mean’ Desperate Joke

There are plenty of gasp-worthy moments in Monday’s Devious Maids season premiere (Lifetime, 9/8c), the first — and most meta — of which comes courtesy of special guest star Eva Longoria.

As revealed in promos for Season 4, Longoria appears as herself — she’s playing Flora, opposite Peri Westmore as Evelyn Powell, in the movie based on Marisol’s true-crime novel — and has these biting words for her co-star, “You are the meanest person I’ve ever met. And I worked on Desperate Housewives!”

More from TVLine

• Caity Lotz and Kyle Schmid Team for Lifetime's Yoga Teacher Killer (Exclusive)

• TVLine Items: One Tree Hill Reunion, Among Us Cast News and More

• Dance Moms Stars Tell All in Explosive Trailer for Lifetime Reunion Special - Plus, Get Premiere Date

Before you continue, take a minute to enjoy that moment in full:

“[Creator] Marc Cherry pitched it,” executive producer Sabrina Wind tells TVLine. “I think it was just a fun way to showcase the pretend Eva Longoria that we have there. The real Eva is a delight, and this person she’s playing is sort of a faux version. We just thought, ‘Why not play off all the rumors and fun and scandal that we had for eight years on the air?’ And Eva is such a great comedian. She sells that whole opening scene like nobody’s business.”

But Longoria’s tongue-in-cheek jab at the ladies of Wisteria Lane isn’t the only reason that scene will go down as “one of [Wind’s] favorite days ever on set.”

“I loved seeing Mariana [Klaveno] playing Peri playing Evelyn,” Wind recalls. “It’s so spot on and so delightful. I actually taped it on my cell phone because we were going out with a few cast members that night, and for anyone who wasn’t on set that day, I wanted them to see how great Mariana was.”

Bonus scoop: This isn’t the only Housewives allusion in Monday’s premiere! A key moment between [someone] and [someone else] will remind die-hard fans of a particularly pivotal moment for Susan and Mike. (And, no, the allusion has nothing to do with Housewives alum James Denton guest-starring in the serious premiere, though he does.)

Your thoughts on Longoria’s Housewives callback? Hopes for Season 4? Drop ’em all in a comment below.

Best of TVLine

• Summer TV Calendar: Your Guide to 85+ Season and Series Premieres

• Yellowjackets' Tawny Cypress Talks Episode 4's Tai/Van Reunion: 'We're All Worried About Taissa'

• Classic Christmas Movies Guide: Where to Watch It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Die Hard and Others

Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter